Take
Ownership of Your Job Without Stepping on Toes by Dr. Karen Otazo

Excerpted from “The Truth about Managing Your Career and Nothing but
the Truth”

Forty years ago Robert
Ardrey, writing about the “territorial imperative,” amazed readers
by showing that humans are no less territorial than animals and
birds when it comes to staking out our “turf.” We may not bite
strangers, urinate on streetlamps or tunefully sing our claims to
territory, and particularly not in the office, but we do like others
to be clear who we are, what we know, and where our influence lies.

When starting a new job, it’s important that you sense out and claim
your ‘territory’: the tasks, issues and decisions that you are
responsible for, and the way in which you do them. However, in
proving yourself, you must take care not to step on anyone else’s
toes. This is a time for establishing working relationships with
others, not making enemies. In any new job, there will be many other
people who have been there longer then you, and who have a view
about how things should be done. You need to find a balance between
showing them respect, and convincing them to cede control to you so
that you can make your mark.

A key first step is to get a sense of the organizational culture -
the various collective habits that make up the way in which the
company operates – and work to fit in with it. Do people chat while
they are working or not? Do they go out to lunch, or do they eat at
their desks? Do they visit others when they have a question, or send
an email? When you notice how all these little things are done and
follow suit you are less disruptive as a newcomer and less likely to
provoke resentment.

Fill your calendar with meetings and conversations when you’re new,
engaging with as many people as possible. Don’t expect others to
come to you. Introduce yourself, and ask them questions about their
role and their opinions on important matters. But wait until you
have something concrete to discuss before you ask for time with very
busy people, so that they don’t feel that you are wasting their
time.

Some toes are more sensitive than others. There are two groups of
people around whom you should tread particularly carefully: those
who in any way consider your work part of their own territory, such
as the person who held your job title, or worked up the project,
before your arrival, and those directly below you in the hierarchy,
who may feel that they know more than you, and maybe even have
wanted your job. In both cases, make initial communication as
neutral as possible. Ask these people open-ended questions,
resisting the temptation to offer your own opinion unless requested.
Treat them and their opinions with respect. Respecting an opinion
does not mean that you have to follow it. You just need to take it
into account.

As a new comer, you should always start from what is already there.
Before you change things, listen to others and be gracious. No
matter how much of an expert you are, and even if you’ve been
brought in for your talents, you still need to make sure that you
keep others in the loop, and respect their ways of doing things.